Like any true Torontonian, I’ve spent a fair amount of my time exploring downtown Toronto. I did most of my university studying sessions within the Toronto Reference Library and so was pleasantly surprised to see this place hidden on the second floor!

The space had been transformed by the Fifth Element Group and was perfectly clothed with ultra chic furniture to give the space a contemporary modern feel.

Take a look for yourself

Yes, I love’d this grassy beauty so much, that it deserved a picture on its own!With the rainy weather outside, it really does look like an urban jungle doesn’t it?!

﻿A bit about the venue~B & B have a combined room capacity of 720! ~The Epic Hall has beautiful exposed brick and wood panel walls ~It features not one, but two private outdoor terraces (perfect for summer parties) ~B & B is situated in an iconic Raymond Moriyama designed building

Moving on to the food. Oh! the food! From delectable crepes to freshly made noodles, everything was just wonderful.

I admit that in the midst of my taste buds having a party I didn’t get a chance to take pictures of some of the food stations but I do hope you enjoyed browsing through the pictures posted above.Does this look like a place you'd like to host a party at? Let me know!

Have you noticed theres a lot of wedding shows happening around you lately? No you’re not imagining things, it’s wedding show season! With a sea of shows lined up for the to-be wed couple, it can be quite overwhelming to visit them all. It may leave you more confused about what you really want at your wedding, and not to mention, they may leave you with a huge hole in your wallet.

So what should you do?Do you try and visit every show that is coming up?How do you decide which show is right for you?

I always tell my couples to do the 3R’s; research, review, and reach out!

﻿To start off with, do your research.Look into these expos to get an idea as to what couple they are geared towards. Every wedding show has a look and feel to it that is designed to attract a certain type of couple. If you are looking to have a luxury wedding with all of the bells and whistles, then I wouldn’t recommend checking out a show that is catered towards the frugal bride. This is because the vendors that specialize in luxury weddings are more likely to see your vision and help it come to life. Likewise, if you are a bride on a budget, don’t go to a show that is catered towards luxury weddings. Trust me, it will only make you feel like you need to spend a lot more money than you intend on.

Budget aside, theres also a cultural aspect you need to consider. Most of the weddings I’ve planned are with either south asian couples, or multicultural ones and so I find myself always referring clients to shows like Suhaag, Kismet, or Nikah. These shows are catered towards south asian couples. They understand the traditions, family values and responsibilities that come with planning a south asian wedding.

Review your wedding list.Once you’ve narrowed down your list to maybe 3 or 4 shows (anything more and you’re likely to just get overwhelmed), review your wedding check list. If you don’t have one, email me and I can help create one for you! See what is still left to be done. From that list, also make sure to highlight aspects of the wedding that you really want to hammer down at the show. Pick two or three services you would like to book and focus on that.

Finally, reach out!You have done your research, picked a few shows you plan on visiting and have committed to trying and booking the services that you want. Now what? You create a team of super supporters and plan a date with them! You want to ask people who know your style, budget and can really help suggest the best thing for you. It can be your fiancé, parents, in-laws, bridal party, whoever! Let them know in advance what your game plan is and ensure that they keep you on track.

If you’re like me and swoon towards anything that is super blingy, you’ll probably need someone to make sure you don’t book the first vendor you see with a lot of shine! Finding the right vendors for your big day is no easy task, and I'll go more in depth about next week (subscribe to keep updated!), but if you attend the right wedding shows, with your list in hand and with the company of your close friends/family, you'll find the whole experience to be quite enjoyable.

Q: What advice do you have for brides who are looking to have a dream wedding on a budget?

A: Majority of the time, couples spend double of what their wedding budget was, simply because they do not realize just how costly weddings can be. The average Canadian spends close to $25,000 and puts in 250 hours planning a wedding. Here are a few helpful tips to bring that number down:

B. Most importantly…re-frame your expectations!

I'm not saying that you cannot have your dream wedding, but if you're trying to have a luxurious wedding on $6000, your experience in planning the most important day of your life will not be easy.

You should sit down and prioritize what matters to you and your s/o the most.

If you splurge on what you deem most important, your day will feel luxurious none the less.

Its okay to have a wedding in a smaller venue if it means being able to hire a designer florist who can cover the ceilings with flowers (if that's what matters most to you).

While not every couple needs a wedding planner, you’ll never find anyone who has regretted their decision to hire one. Contrary to popular belief we aren’t this crazy-busy, super fabulous, pink fluffy binder carrying person who runs around in 5 inch heels convincing her clients of why they need to over spend; and we sure as heck don’t look like J. Lo from ‘The Wedding Planner’ (although I’d love to).

So, if we aren't what many believe us to be, then what exactly are we? What exactly does a Wedding Planner do?

I perform a service. I am positive you can plan your own wedding, there’s no doubt about it. What I do, is take on all of the headaches of planning a wedding, find you business professionals that match your style and let you relax. Every bride deserves to look and feel her best on her big day, there is absolutely no reason for you to lose sleep over setting up the tables, or folding the napkins and in turn be faced with a stress zit on your face. I am your reality check.According to Statistics Canada, an average wedding in Canada can run you upwards of $27,000. When a couple sits down to plan their wedding, they soon realize that those ginormous centrepieces that they want for their big day are going to create for them just as big a hole in their pockets. My job is to sit down with you and go over what you really really REALLY want, and what you don't really need. I’m like a big fat $ sign in the room with you so that you can make sure you don’t over spend!

I work with a lot of vendors.I’ve built many close relationships with hard working professionals over the last few years. A lot of vendors will give couples discounted rates on their products and services if they go through a planner. Waahh? So not only do I keep a reality check on you, but also save you money? Yes, it’s true! Vendors know that they need to keep a good working relationship with wedding and event coordinators; which is why they offer us these great rates. As unfortunate as the fact may be, the wedding and events industry refreshes itself every year. Once a couple gets married, they aren’t likely to reuse a vendor. It’s because of this fact that they usually don’t offer discounted prices.

I am your middleman.You want a totally ‘blinged' out wedding, while your mother, aunts, sisters, and cousins all want you to have a blue, peach and sandy themed wedding because thats what they’ve always dreamed for you. No worries, I’m here for you. This means I’m able to look at the bigger picture and figure out a way to blend both together so that both parties are happy. If that makes your family a bit upset with you, go ahead and blame your crazy wedding planner for it! I promise not to take it personally! :)

I am your planner with a million faces.During the whole planning process, I’ll be your best friend, your shoulder to cry on,your confidante, your couch, your accountant, your teacher, your cheer squad, your relationship referee, and most importantly I’ll be your completely impartial advisor!As your wedding planner, your happiness becomes my main goal. I’ll do whatever it is I need to do to make sure your day is memorable and filled with complete utter joy.

WPIC, otherwise known as The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada is the only Wedding Coordinator Certification Course that regulates their members. Throughout their courses they stress the importance of proper etiquette, educate on Canada's rules and regulations about planning an event so that both the coordinator and the client are safe from lawsuits! They hold yearly conferences to keep up to date and maintain industry standards. Why is this so important? Simple, on your wedding day, do you really want to put all of your faith and trust into the hands of someone who may not be qualified? Isn't that a big risk to take?By being WPICC (the last 'C' stands for certified) your planner is able to ensure your big day runs smoothly, and you can rest assured that they are honouring the code of ethics.If you'd like to read more about them, you can do so here.

Welcome to Rangeen Weddings blog!We'll post updates on things going on with Rangeen Weddings, trends for each season along with the do's and don't of event planning.Be sure to check often or follow our blog, to see what is new and happening. :)